Adjusting drum for remote transfer system



0a. 1, 1968 S J. F. MORSE I 3,403,578

ADJUSTING DRUM FOR REMOTE TRANSFER SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JOHN F. MORSE Fl. 2 mvw ATTORNEYS Oct. 1, 1968 .1. F. MORSE. 3,403,578

ADJUSTING DRUM FOR REMOTE TRANSFER SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OHN F. MORSE.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 1, 1968 J. F, MORSE 3,403,578

ADJUSTING DRUM FOR REMOTE TRANSFER SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JOHN F'. MORSE BY M15 7? ATTOR N E YS Oct. 1,1968 J. F. MORSE ADJUSTING DRUM FOR REMOTE TRANSFER SYSTEM 5Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 29, 1967 VNN WNW NVN mmm

Oct. 1, 1968 J. F. MORSE ADJUSTING DRUM FOR REMOTE TRANSFER SYSTEM 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 29, 1967 INVENTOR JOHN F. MORSE FIG. IO

ATTORNEY5 United States Patent Ofice 3,403,578 Patented Oct. 1, 19683,403,578 ADJUSTING DRUM FOR REMOTE TRANSFER SYSTEM John F. Morse, 21Clinton St., Hudson, Ohio 44236 Continuation-impart of application Ser.No. 499,236, Oct. 21, 1965. This application Sept. 29, 1967, Ser. No.677,825

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-501) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A drum for adjustingthe tension in balanced cables used to transfer motion between a drivingand a driven shaft. The drum, mounted for rotation on one of saidshafts, is split transversely its rotational axis into a capstan and afloating section. One of the balanced cables is secured to each of thecapstan and floating sections, both of which are preferably providedwith a cable receiving, helical groove over approximately that half ofthe outer surface which is most remote from the split defining the twosections. A plurality of teeth on the floating section selectivelyintermesh with opposed teeth on the capstan section so that when thisfirst plurality of teeth are intermeshed relative rotation between thesections is precluded. The capstan section is secured to the shaft onwhich the drum is mounted for rotation. Exemplary of such connection isa radially extending anchor plate affixed to the shaft. A plurality ofteeth on the anchor plate selectively intermesh with opposed teeth onthe capstan section. Relative rotation between the capstan section andthe anchor plate is precluded when this second plurality of teeth areintermeshed. Clamping means are provided to permit selective engagementand disengagement of the first and second plurality of teeth to adjustthe tension in the cable strand attached to the floating section withrespect to the cable strand attached to the capstan section, as well asthe tension of the cable strand attached to the capstan section withrespect to the rotational position of the shaft with which said drumrotates.

Cross reference to related applications The subject application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending United States application, Ser. No.499,236, filed Oct. 21, 1965, now abandoned.

Background of the invention Motion transfer mechanisms are basically oftwo types. There is the push-pull cable and the balanced system. Thepush-pull cable generally comprises a flexible core slidably received inan outer casing for transmitting mechanical motion in either directionwhen the outer casing is clamped in position. Thus, remote control canbe effected by the application of either tensile or compressive forcesto the core. An example of the push-pull control cable can be found inmy prior United States patent, No. 3,013,443.

The second type of motion transfer system is as old as the concept ofremote steering. For example, when applied to a ships steering mechanisma balanced system has traditionally comprised a wheel and shaft with arope driving drum at the steering station to provide the requiredmovement of the two ropes leading from the driving drum to the drivencomponent and connected thereto in opposition. The opposition of theconnection to the driven component and the appelation balanced systemappear quite appropriate when it is realized that the mechanical motiontransmitting ropes, or cables, must form a closed system because oftheir inability to relay mechanical motion by other than tensilestresses. An improved remote motion transfer mechanism of the balancedtype can be found in my prior United States patent, No. 2,737,822,wherein it is noted that while such mechanisms are particularly adaptedto marine installations, they are not limitedthereto.

The mechanism disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,737,822 isquite satisfactory for use in situations where the rotation of thedriving and driven components does not involve much more than a half ofone revolution. It is readily apparent that if greater rotationalmovement is required, the distance between the terminal block assembliesand the drums becomes excessive. This distance is further increased bythe necessity of turnbuckles to adjust the tension of the cables and theamount of overlay required to clamp the cable ends to the turnbuckle orother end fittings.

Summary of the invention It is therefore a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a suitable mechanism for adapting a balanced remotetransfer system to provide multiple revolutions of the driving anddriven components.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a drum meansfor use with the driving and/or driven component of a balanced systemwhich permits individual tensioning of the control cables commonlyreceived there- It is still another object of the present invention toprovide an adjusting drum means, as above, in which any tendency of thecables to overwrap, even after several rotations of the drum means, isminimized.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drum means,as above, which is capable of adjusting the cable tension with respectto the drum and, selectively, with respect to the shaft on which thedrum is mounted.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide anadjusting drum means, as above, which is not only easy to operate butalso inexpensive to manufacture, install and maintain.

These and other objects of the present invention, as well as theadvantages thereof over existing and prior art forms, will be apparentin view of the following detailed description of the attached drawingsand are accomplished by means hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, a system for transferring motion between a driving anddriven station by balanced cables according to the concept of thepresent invention employs at least 0 e drum, or spool, splittransversely the axis thereof into a Japstan section and a floatingsection. One of the balanced cables is attached to and wound in onedirection around the capstan section and the second of the balancedcables is attached to and wound in an opposite direction around thefloating section. The capstan section engages the drive or driven shaftby an anchor means for rotation therewith, and the floating section isrotatably mounted on the same shaft adjacent the capstan section with alocking means selectively securing the floating section to the capstansection.

For a drum subjected to a plurality of rotations it is also desirable toprovide a cable receiving, threadlike, helical groove over a portion ofthe cable receiving surface of each section. The cable receiving groovein each section is limited to approximately that half of each sectionwhich is most remote from the other section.

To permit adjustment of the cable attached to the capstan section withrespect to the relative rotational position of the shaft on which it iscarried, the anchor means between the capstan section and said shaftalso accommodates locational selectivity.

Four embodiments are shown by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings and are described in detail without attempting to show all ofthe various forms and modifications in which the invention might beembodied; the invention being measured by the appended claims and not bythe details of the specification.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic view of abalanced remote motion transfer system embodying the concept of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the drum means used insaid transfer system taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan, partially in section, of the second drummeans and the one by which cable tension adjustment is effected, takensubstantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 3 depicting the drum meansdisposed for adjusting the cable tension;

FIG. 6 is a top plan of an alternative form of drum means for adjustingthe tension in the cables of a balanced remote transfer system;

FIG. 7 is a top plan, similar to FIG. 3, of an alternative form of drummeans, said drum means depicted at the midpoint of its normal rotationalrange;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 depicting the alternative drum meanshaving been rotated through its full normal range in one direction;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a further alternative form of adjustingdrum means; and

FIG. 10 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 10-10 of FIG.9.

Description 0] the preferred embodiments Referring more particularly tothe drawings, an im proved adjusting drum, indicated generally by thenumeral 10, is incorporated in the balanced pulley and cable system 11.Exemplary of a balanced system 11, a control, or driving, shaft 12,which may be located in the pilot house of a ship, is connected therebyto transfer the motion of the driving shaft 12 to a driven shaft 13 inthe engine room. The shaft 13 may be operatively connected to thegovernor or other part of the engine, or to the rudder. The shaft 12 maybe rotated by a wheel, hand lever, or other driving device, not shown.While the improved drum 10 is disclosed as being carried on the drivingshaft 12, it may just as readily be carried on the driven shaft 13.

The control cable 14 is anchored to, and appropriately wrapped around, adrum 15 nonrotatably secured to the driven shaft in a manner more fullyhereinafter described. The pair of strands 14A and 143 formed by cable14 extend outwardly of the drum 15 and enter a rigid conduit 16 througha terminal block 18. The terminal block 18 has opposed rollers, pulleys,19 which guide the cable strands 14A and 14B into the entrance of theconduit 16 so that they will pass therethrough without damaging abrasionor other excessive contact.

The pulleys 19 are mounted on shafts 20 supported in one end of theterminal block housing, and the other end is fastened to the conduit 16,as by threading, set screws, or other clamping means 21. Bracket ears 22may be provided, as desired, for mounting the terminal block 18 in thedesired location.

The conduit 16, together with similar sections 23 and 24, traversebetween the remote driving and driven stations and are interconnected byelbows 25 fastened to each by clamping means similar to those by whichthe terminal block 18 is fastened to the conduits. The elbows arepreferably made in standard types, such as 45 turns or the 90 turn elbow25 depicted, and each of the elbows contains the pulleys about which thestrands are reeved as they change directions between the successiveconduit sections 16, 23 and 24. If desired, a more detailed disclosure 4of the preferred elbow construction can be found in my prior US. PatentNo. 2,762,606.

The driven drum 15, as best seen in FIG. 2, is constructed to permit theuse of a single cable 14. Several turns of strand 14A are wrapped in onedirection around the drum 15, and the strands 14B are wrapped in acounter direction. The bight 28 in the cable 14 between strands 14A and14B extends through a hole 29, passes beneath a cylindrical shell 30 ofthe drum 15 and extends through a second hole 31. Such an arrangementalso often eliminates the necessity of using cable clamps, the severalturns of each strand and the accommodation of the bight being generallysufficient to prevent slippage. In some cases, of course, it may bedesired to clamp the cable to the drum, or even to use separate cablesfor each strand. Such alternatives are well within the ability of oneskilled in the art.

The drum 15 is keyed, splined or otherwise nonrotatably secured to theshaft 13, as by the set screw 32, so that rotation of the shaft 13 inone direction will cause the strand 14A to be wrapped onto the drum andpermit strand 14B to unwrap; reverse rotation, wraps strand 14B onto thedrum and permits strand 14A to unwrap.

The adjusting drum 10, as represented in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, receives theopposite ends of strands 14A and 14B.

Drum 10 generally comprises at least two sections. The capstan sectionis nonrotatably secured to the shaft 12, as by a key, splines, or theset screw 36 depicted. Cable strand 14B extends outwardly of conduit 24through the terminal block 18' and is wrapped in a given directionaround the capstan section 35 a selected number of turns and is anchoredthereto, as by inserting the end thereof through the bore 38 extendingtransversely through the bolt 39 mounted on the radially extendingflange 40 of the capstan section. Tightening the nut 41 on bolt 39clamps the end of the strand 14B firmly against the flange 46.

The direction in which the strand 14B is wrapped around the capstansection 35 will depend upon the desired relative rotation between thedriving shaft 12 and the driven shaft 13. If the shafts are intended toturn in the same direction, the strand 14B will be wrapped onto thecapstan section 35 in the same direction as it is wound onto the drum15. However, if the shafts are to revolve oppositely-Le, clockwiserotation of shaft 12 is to induce counterclockwise rotation of shaft13-the strand 14B will be wound in an opposite direction onto capstansection 35 from the direction it is wound onto drum 15.

Cable strand 14A is wound onto the second of the two sections formingdrum 10. This second, or floating, section 42, is rotatably mounted onthe shaft 12 adjacent the capstan section 35, and the strand 14A isalways wound in an opposite direction on the floating section 42 fromthe direction the strand 14B is wound onto the capstan section 35 andmay be anchored in a fashion similar to that utilized for anchoringstrand 14B. With the strands 14A and 148 thus oppositely wound on bothdrum [0 and drum 15, rotation therebetween may be effected solely by theapplication of tensile forces to one or the other of the cable strands,depending upon the direction of rotation.

By wrapping the strands 14A and 148 a number of turns around both thedrum 15 and the adjusting drum 10, the rotation of the driving anddriven shafts l2 and 13, respectively, is limited only by the number ofturns that the strands are wrapped. A much greater range is therebyprovided than heretofore practically available with the known balancedremote transfer system. While the floating section 42 of drum 10 isrotatably mounted on shaft 12, a locking means selectively secures thefloating section 42 to the capstan section 35. Thus, by selectivelyunlocking the floating section 42 from the capstan section 35, the twomay be relatively rotated to adjust the tension between the strands 14Aand 14B, and, when the desired tension is obtained, the two drumsections are resecured together.

The preferred locking means comprises a plurality of teeth 43 extendingaxially outwardly of the capstan section toward the floating section 42and meshing interengageably with opposedly directed, axially orientedteeth 44 on the floating section 42. Inasmuch as the intermeshing teeth43 and 44 serve only to lock the floating section 42 to the capstansection 35 for rotation therewith, the sides of the teeth may beparallel with the axis of drum 10. However, engagement of the teeth isfacilitated if the sides of each tooth converge slightly toward the tips45 and 46, respectively, thereof, as shown.

A clamping, or locking, nut 48 is received on the threaded end portion49 of shaft 12. Tightening the nut 48 against the floating section 42,as through washer 50, maintains the teeth 43 and 44 intermeshed andthereby locks the floating section 42 to the capstan section 35.

Loosening, or backing off, the nut 48 permits the floating section 42 tobe displaced axially away from the capstan section 35 so that the teeth43 and 44 may disengage. This allows the two drum sections 35 and 4-2 tobe rotated relative to each other for adjusting the tension on the cablestrands 14A and 14B. The radially outer edge of the flange 51 on thefloating section 42 may be smoothly serrated, as at 52, to provide ahand grip for turning the floating section. Or, if greater tension isrequired for particular installation, the hub 53 of the floating sectionmay be provided with a head such as the hexagonal end depicted (FIG. 4)so that a wrench may be applied for tensioning strand 14A.

To tension strand 14B, the capstan section 35 and the shaft 12 on whichit is aflixed must be rotated relative to the floating section 42. Inmany installations this can be easily accomplished. However, in someinstallations it is inconvenient to rotate the shaft 12 for tensioningstrand 14B and not desirable to change the relative position of theshafts 12 and 13. The embodiment depicted in IG. 6 is particularlyadapted for such installations.

The adjusting drum depicted in FIG. 6 is also transversely divided intoa capstan section and a floating section 142 and is otherwise identicalto the construction depicted in FIGS. 3-5, inclusive, except for themanner in which it is mounted on the shaft 112. The capstan section 135is not directly connected to the shaft 112 but is also selectivelyrotatable with respect thereto. A radially extending anchor plate 160 isnonrotatably aflixed to the shaft 112 as by a key, splines, or the setscrew 161 depicted. A plurality of teeth 162 extend axially of theanchor plate 161) toward the capstan section 135 and are selectivelyengageable with a plurality of opposedly directed mating teeth 163 onthe flange on the capstan section 135.

By utilizing an anchor plate the capstan section 135 can be readilyrotated with respect to the shaft 112 for tensioning the strand 114B,and the floating section 142 can be rotated relative to the capstansection 135 for tensioning strand 114A. As is apparent from FIG. 6, alock ring 164 in the shape of a C-clip may be received in a groove onthe end of the shaft 112 to limit the distance that the clamping, orlocking, nut 148 may be backed off. As shown, the nut 148 is permittedto move axially only an amount necessary to disengage either the teeth162 and 163 or the teeth 143 and 144, i.e., a distance substantiallyless than the combined axial meshing dimension of the two sets of teeth.Such an amount has been found to be most convenient as it permitsdisengagement of teeth 162 and 163 for adjustment of the strand 1143 byturning the drum 110 as a unit, and then engaging teeth 162 and 163 tohold the tension applied to strand 114B while disengaging teeth 143 and144 to tension strand 114A by turning the floating section 142 alone.With both strands 114A and 114B tensioned to the desired degree the nut148 is tightened to lock the teeth 162 and 163 and the teeth 143 and 144in meshing engagement.

there is a tendency of the strands to overwrap, it has been found thatthis tendency can be effectively precluded by the provision of helicalgrooves over a portion of the drum.

As shown in FIG. 7, an alternative form of adjusting drum, indicatedgenerally by the numeral 210, is also divided into a capstan section 235and a floating section 242. However, a cable receiving, helical groove270 is provided on the capstan section 235 of the drum 210 and a similargroove 271 is provided in the floating section 242. The

groove 270 in the capstan section 235 extends, threadlike,-

from the flange 2411 approximately half way toward the floating section242 where the groove 2'70 gradually fades, or merges, into the smoothcylindrical outer surface 272 of the capstan section 235. The strand214B wrapped onto the capstan section is received within the groove 270and the end of the strand 214B extends through the bore 238 in bolt 239by which that strand of the cable is firmly anchored to the flange 246.1

Similarly, a groove 271 extends, threadlike from the flange 251 alongthe floatin section 242 approximately half way toward the capstansection 235 where this groove too gradually fades, or merges, into thesmooth cylindrical outer surface 273 of the floating section 242. Thestrand 214A wrapped onto the floating section 242 is received within thegroove 271 with the end thereof extending through a bore 274 in bolt 275by which the cable strand 241A is firmly anchored to the flange 251.

Most marine steering systems can be satisfactorily operated with theadjusting drum 210 being rotatable through a range of four to sixrevolutions. It is also most advantageous to provide suflicient cablefor at least two additional revolutions of the drum at each end of itsnormal range as a safety factor. Therefore, to provide six turns ofcable throughout the operating range with a two turn factor of safety ateach end, the capstan and floating sections, 235 and 242, respectively,would each have five turns of the cable wrapped thereabout when theadjusting drum 219 is at the mid point of its normal rotational range,as shown in FIG. 7.

By supplying each section of the adjusting drum with a grooved portion,the three operating turns of cable on each section plus the two safetyturns maintain themselves arranged well to the side of the intermeshedteeth 243 and 244, which define the transverse split that divides thedrum 210 into the floating and capstan sections, so that ease ofadjustment is assured. Moreover, when the drum is turned to its normalfull extent in either direction the cable does not chafe unnecessarilyagainst adjacent turns. As shown in FIG. 8, when the drum 210 is turnedthrough its normal full range in one direction, an additional three fullturns of the strand 214B are wound onto the drum 210. Because of theprovision of grooves 270 and 271, the additional length of that strandwill wrap onto and across the medial portion of the drum without undueabrasion of the additional turns, one against the other. And, thisconstruction precludes the additional length of strand 2148 beingwrapped onto the drum 210 from being forced against or, even worse, ontothe corresponding length of strand 214A being unwrapped as the drum 21throtates.

Additionally, when the drum 210 is counterrotated from the positionshown in FIG. 8 to the position shown in FIG. 7, the strand 214A willnot lay onto the drum in the expanded helix defined by the annularorientation of the cable 214A from the guide pulley 2.78 to the contact7 point of the cable 214A with the floating section 242 of the drum 210.Rather, the cable strand 214A will be forced, by the groove 271, to wrapadjacent the preceding turn, and the cable will continue so to wrapthroughout the extent of the groove 271.

With the groove extending over at least half the surface of the floatingsection 242, by the time the groove merges with the cylindrical surface273 of the floating section the angular orientation of the strand 214Ais so slight that the strand will wrap onto the drum in an orderlyfashion without the necessity of the groove. It should be noted that thegrooves 270 and 271 must not extend fully across the surface of thecapstan and floating sections, as a fully grooved drum 210 would preventthe selective positioning of the capstan and floating sections withrespect to each other necessary to permit adjustment in the cabletension provided by the subject concept.

Whether the capstan section 235 of this alternative drum 210 is securedto the driving shaft 212 by the set screw 236 or whether an anchor plateconstruction of the type disclosed in FIG. 6 is employed will dependupon the demands of the particular installation.

Alternatively, the drum may be secured to the driving shaft by an anchormeans of the type disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10. The drum 310, shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, is also divided into a capstan section 335 and afloating section 342. A cable receiving groove 370 is preferablyprovided on the capstan section 335 of the drum 310, and a similargroove 371 is provided on the floating section 342.

The groove 370 in the capstan section 335 extends, threadlike, from ananchor bore 380 adjacent the flange 340 approximately half way towardthe floating section 342 where the groove 370 gradually fades, ormerges, into the smooth cylindrical outer surface 372 of the capstansection 335. The strand 314B wrapped onto the capstan section 335 isreceived within the groove 3'70, and the end of the strand 314B extendsinto the anchor bore 350 where it is retained by a set screw 381.

Similarly, a groove 371 extends, threadlike, from an anchor bore 382adjacent the flange 351 along the floating section 342 approximatelyhalf way toward the capstan section 335 where this groove too graduallyfades, or merges, into the smooth cylindrical center surface 373 of thefloating section 342. The strand 314A wrapped onto the floating section342 is received within groove 371, and the end of the strand 314Aextends into the anchor bore 382 where it is retained by a set screw383.

This construction also permits the capstan section 335 to be selectivelyrotatable with respect to the driving shaft 312. A radially extendinganchor pin 384 is nonrotatably aflixed to the shaft 312. A plurality ofteeth 363 on the capstan section 335 present axially oriented valleys385 therebetween into which the anchor pin 384 is selectivelyengageablc.

The pin 384 keys against the generally radial side walls 386 and 388 ofeach valley 385 for a rotational driving connection between the shaft312 and the capstan section 335. The pin 384 also abuts the transversebackwall 389 of each valley 385 as an axial positioner, or stop, for thecapstan section 335.

A securing cap plate 390 is positioned transversely of the shaft 312 inaxially spaced relation to the backwall 389 and abuts the side of thepin 384 opposite backwall 389. A plurality of tightening means in theform of bolts 391 extend between the capstan and floating sections ofthe drum 310 selectively to maintain the teeth 343 on the capstansection 335 intermeshed with the teeth 344 on the floating section 342.The bolts 391 also extend through the peripheral flange 392 on the capplate 390 selectively to position the plate 390 for securing the pin 384Within valleys 385.

As best shown in FIG. 10, the bolts 391 are received through arcuatelyelongated slots 393 and 394 in the capstan and floating sections of thedrum 313, respectively,

to accommodate selective rotation of the floating section 342 wit-hrespect to the capstan section 335.

By utilizing the construction shown for drum 310 not only can thecapstan section 335 be readily rotated with respect to the shaft 312 fortensioning the strand 314B, but the floating section 342 can also berotated relative to the capstan section 335 for tensioning strand 314A.

It should therefore be readily apparent that an adjusting drum embodyingthe concept of the present invention provides an inexpensive means forindividually adjusting the tension in the control cables of a balancedremote transfer system and also permits multiple revolutions of thedriving and driven components. This and the other objects of theinvention have thus been accomplished.

I claim:

1. In a systeern for transferring motion between a driving and a drivenshaft by balanced first and second cable strands, at least one adjustingdrum means, said drum means comprising, an anchor plate atfixed radiallyto one of said shafts, teeth means on said anchor plate, a capstansection rotatably mounted on said shaft in proximity to said anchorplate, teeth means on said capstan section opposed to the teeth means onsaid anchor plate and selectively intermeshable therewith relativerotation between said anchor plate and said capstan being precluded whensaid teeth means are meshed, one of said balanced cables secured to saidcapstan section, a floating section rotatably mounted on said shaft inproximity to said capstan section, teeth means on said floating sectionselectively intermeshable with opposed teeth means on said capstansection, relative rotation between said floating and said capstansections being precluded when the teeth means therebewteen are meshed,the second of said balanced cables secured to said floating section andclamping means for permitting selective meshing and unmeshing of theteeth means between the anchor plate and the capstan section as well asbetween the capstan and floating sections.

2. In a system for transferring motion between a driving and a drivenshaft by balanced first and second cable strands, at least one adjustingdrum means, said drum means comprising, a radially extending anchorplate affixed to one of said shaft, 3. capstan section rotatably mountedon said shaft, a plurality of teeth extending axially from said anchorplate toward said capstan section selectively intermeshing with aplurality of opposedly directed teeth on said capstan section, afloating section rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent said capstansection, a second plurality of teeth on said capstan sec tion, saidsecond plurality of teeth extending axially from said capstan sectionselectively intermeshing with a plurality of opposedly directed teeth onsaid floating section, one of said balanced cables secured to saidcapstan section, the second of said balanced cables secured to saidfloating section and clamping means for permitting selective engagementand disengagement of said teeth.

3. A transfer system, as set forth in claim 2, in which said clampingmeans comprises a nut threadably re ceived on said shaft and movableaxially toward and away from said floating section, a retaining clipmounted on said shaft axially outwardly of said nut a distancesubstantially less than the combined axial meshing dimension of the setof teeth between said capstan section and said anchor plate and the setof teeth between said capstan section and said floating section so thateither set may be selectively disengaged with the other set engaged whensaid nut is moved away from said floating section and against saidretaining clip, and both sets are lockingly engaged when said nut ismoved toward said floating section.

' 4. In a system for transferring motion between a driving and a drivenstation, an adjusting drum, at least one of said stations providing ashaft mounted for rotation, said adjusting drum comprising, a capstansection, means for securing said capstan section nonrotatably to saidshaft, a floating section, said floating section rotatably mounted onsaid shaft adjacent said capstan section, the first of said balancedcables secured to said capstan section remotely of said floatingsection, the second of said balanced cables secured to said floatingsection remotely of said capstan section, a threadlike, helical grooveextending over approximately that half of said capstan section remotefrom said floating section, the first said balanced cable receivable insaid groove, a threadlike, helical groove extending over approximatelythat half of said floating section remote from said capstan section, thesecond said balanced cable receivable within the groove in said floatingsection and locking means selectively to secure the floating section tosaid capstan section.

5. An adjusting drum, as set forth in claim 4, in which the helicalgrooves on the capstan and floating sections merge into a smoothcylindrical surface that extends from said groove to the opposite ofsaid sections and forms the medial portion of said adjusting drum.

6. An adjusting drum, as set forth in claim 5, in which the lockingmeans between said capstan and floating sections comprises a pluralityof teeth on said capstan section extending axially toward said floatingsection and a plurality of opposedly extending similar teeth selectivelyengageable therewith on said floating section, and securing means forpermitting selective engagement and disengagement of said teeth.

7. An adjusting drum, as set forth in claim 6, in which the meanssecuring said capstan section to said shaft comprises a radiallyextending anchor means aflixed to said shaft, teeth means on saidcapstan section selectively intermeshable with said anchor means.

8. An adjusting drum, as set forth in claim 7, in which the anchor meanscomprises, a radially extending anchor plate, a plurality of teethextending axially of said anchor plate toward said capstan section andselectively intermeshable with the opposingly directed teeth on saidcapstan section.

9. In a system for transferring motion between a driving and a drivenshaft by balanced first and second cable strands, at least one adjustingdrum means, said drum means comprising, a capstan section rotatablymounted on one of said shafts, one of said balanced cables secured tosaid capstan section, an anchor means for selectively securing saidcapstan section in a relative rotational position with respect to theshaft on which it is mounted, a floating section rotatably mounted onsaid shaft in proximity to said capstan section, the second of saidbalanced cables secured to said floating section, teeth means on saidfloating section selectively intermeshable with opposed teeth means onsaid capstan section, relative rotation between said floating andcapstan sections being precluded when the teeth means therebetween aremeshed, and securing means for permitting selective meshing andunmeshing of the teeth means betweeen said capstan and floatingsections.

10. An adjusting drum means, as set forth in claim 9, in which a first,threadlike, helical groove extends over approximately that half of saidcapstan section remote from said floating section, the balanced cablesecured to said capstan section receivable in said first groove, asecond, threadlike, helical groove extends over approximately that halfof said floating section remote from said capstan section, the balancedcable secured to said floating section receivable in said second groove.

11. A transfer system, as set forth in claim 9, in which the anchormeans for securing said capstan section to said shaft comprises a pinmeans secured radially of the shaft on which said capstan section ismounted, second teeth means on said capstan section selectively intermeshable with said pin means, relative rotation between said capstansection and the shaft to which said pin means is secured being precludedwhen said second teeth means and said pin means are meshed.

12. An adjusting drum means, as set forth in claim 11, in which a first,threadlike, helical groove extends over approximately that half of saidcapstan section remote from said floating section, a second, threadlike,helical groove extends over approximately that half of said floatingsection remote from said capstan section, the said helical grooves onsaid capstan and floating sections merging into a relatively smoothcylindrical surface that extends from each said groove to the oppositeof said sections and forms the medial portion of said adjusting drum,the balanced cable secured to said capstan section receivable in thegroove therein and onto the medial portion of said adjusting drum, thecable secured to said floating section receivable in the groove thereinand onto the medial portion of said adjusting drum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 26,652 1/1866 'Colvin 114160197,310 11/1877 Baldwin et a1. 254- 873,048 12/1907 Hurlburt 114-160905,871 12/1908 Hall 114-160 1,080,766 12/1913 Lund et a1. 114-160FOREIGN PATENTS 1,227,933 3/ 1960 France.

1,186,187 1/1965 Germany.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner.

C. F. GREEN, Assistant Examiner.

